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More than a ton of cocaine with a street value estimated at up to £77million was seized from a Jersey-registered boat in the Caribbean following collaboration between the island's Attorney General and French authorities.
Officials based in the French département of Martinique contacted Jersey's Attorney General, Mark Temple, for permission to search the vessel Maria Del Mar, which had been identified during anti-drugs smuggling patrols around 200 miles south of Barbados.
Having consulted with colleague in customs and immigration, Mr Temple granted permission for a search under the Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978, which provides jurisdiction in respect of offences on ships.
On boarding the vessel the same day, 26 February, the French authorities discovered 1,100kgs of cocaine.
In Jersey, this would have had a street value of between £55m and £77m, according to an estimate from the Law Officers Department.
The four people on board the boat – three Spaniards and one Colombian – were arrested and are in custody in Martinique.
A statement from the LOD referred to a message of thanks from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Attorney General’s assistance, leading to the successful conclusion of the operation.
The French authorities also expressed the wish that cooperation between the British and French services in the fight against drug trafficking would continue and develop.
Mr Temple said: “Jersey is keen to play its part in combatting illicit drug trafficking, wherever it takes place.
“We congratulate the French authorities on this successful operation and confirm that we will continue to assist them.
“The drugs in this case would have done enormous damage had they reached their intended markets.”
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